Beaches San Carlos Mexico

Algodones Beach

“Algodones” means “cotton” which is a perfect name for this beautiful beach with soft white sand dunes. It has the softest smoothest sand in San Carlos.

There is great snorkeling along the rocks to the right of the restaurant and on the other side by the Paradiso hotel.  You will often see kite boarders making use of the winds in this area.

With several restaurant open for breakfast, lunch and dinner serving good food and drinks, this is a very popular spot on weekends.

To get there, take the main highway to the old Paradiso Hotel.  A half mile before reaching Paradiso, turn left toward the beach. Follow the dirt roads to the beach. The beach goes from the San Carlos Plaza Hotel to Paradiso Hotel and beyond.

The sunsets at Algodones are spectacular and not to be missed.

Highlights:

• Softest sand dunes in San Carlos
• Excellent kiteboarding & snorkeling
• Amazing sunsets

Posada Beach

La Posada is a beautiful beach in a protected cove. You can snorkeling up either side of the cove.

At the far end is a cave. If the tide is low, you can walk to the cave and if the tide is high, you can snorkel or swim.

This is also a nice beach to read on the lounge chairs under the shaded palapas, and then have dinner and listen to the nightly entertainment at the restaurant. You may also be lucky and find dolphins swimming near the shore.

La Posada is a short drive from the main road in San Carlos.  Turn left at the sign for La Posada Condominiums, and drive towards the water. There is a parking lot close to the beach and behind La Palapa Griega restaurant.

Best for families and couples seeking a relaxing day near restaurants and calm water. While at Posada beach, visit La Palapa Griega and El Mar.

Marinaterra Beach Club / Shangri-La

This is a great place to snorkel, dive, swim and kayak. It is a beautiful quiet area.

You can rent kayaks from the Beach Club (singles and doubles).  However, they do not rent snorkel equipment, so bring it with you if you want to snorkel.

There are chairs and lounges that belong to the MarinaTerra Hotel. You can purchase drinks and refreshments from the Beach Club, and then use their bathroom facilities, which are very clean and nice.

To get to the beach club, take the main road past the MarinaTerra Hotel, and then turn left at the roundabout and continue to follow the road towards the water (at the Marinaterra Beach Club). If you go in through the Beach Club entrance, you may be asked to pay a fee, even if you just want to pass through to get to the beach.  So instead, park in their lot, and then walk to the left of the Beach Club where you will see a path beside a home (adjacent to the Club) which you can use to get to the beach. Click here for a map.

During jellyfish season, there tends to be a lot in this area, so take care.

This spot is ideal for snorkeling, kayaking, and paddleboarding.

Playa Piedras Pintas

This is another great location for snorkeling, diving and kayaking.  Snorkeling and diving are good up both sides of the cove. A second cove and beach are further to the left.There are no shade structures on this beach, so bring an umbrella. There are also no facilities.To get here by car, pass the RV park on your right, drive over the topes, and then turn left before starting up the hill towards the Mirador.  Drive down a dirt road to the first beach in a string of little coves and sandy beaches. There is plenty of room to park.Piedra Pintas is sometimes also called Frenchy’s Cove or Lalo’s.

Local Tip: Bring water shoes and shade; this cove is one of the best for colorful reef fish.

San Francisco Beach

San Francisco Beach has a long, sandy beach with cream-colored sand, pretty shells and good swimming. The section adjacent to Pilar Condos and Condos Delfin is well tended by the  condo maintenance staff. The waters at this beach have soft, sandy bottoms.

There is no shade, so bring an umbrella.  Dolphins are often spotted from the beach, and they swim quite close to shore. The beach is beside the Soldado estuary, which is a beautiful spot to walk or kayak.  You can rent kayaks, windsurfers, or hobie crafts here.

Pilar beach is in front of Condominios Pilar and Bahia Delfin, just off the main highway coming out of San Carlos.   You can park in the dirt parking lot to the right of Bahia Delfin.

Call San Carlos Aquatic Adventures at 622-855-5926. There is a public restaurant located in the middle of the condos. They serve lunches and dinners, and you may use their bathrooms when the restaurant is open.  Otherwise, there are no public toilets.

Eco-activities: Pilar Beach borders the Soldado Estuary, a top site for birdwatching and kayaking.

Miramar Beach, Guaymas

Looking for a family-friendly beach in Guaymas? Try Miramar. Miramar has a popular beach that is busy on weekends with volleyball, pedal boats, kayaks, lots of kids and teens, music, and a beer and taco restaurant. You will get a great sense of the Mexican culture by coming to this beach on a crowded weekend. Often you will see dolphins swim by.

To get there, go to Miramar, which is located between San Carlos and Guaymas. Turn right before the overpass bridge on the way into Guaymas. Make a right at the residential street nearest to the water at Bacochibampo Bay.  Drive to the end of that street, and park in the dirt parking lot.

Weekends bring food stalls, and families — a great spot to experience authentic Sonoran beach life. Explore Guaymas.

Off-the-Beaten-Path: For those seeking peace and quiet, head south to Empalme’s secluded beaches.

Cochorit Beach

This secluded beach is perfect for a long stroll, bird watching and shell collecting.  Cochorit Beach is about a 25 minutes drive from San Carlos. Drive through Empalme and turn right at the sign for Cochorit. It’s about a mile from there to the beach. There are no public facilities at Cochorit. Some seasonal restaurants line the beach, but they don’t have reliable hours.

Playa del Sol

Playa del Sol is past Cochorit,  south on Highway 15. Turn right at Kilometer 113 and continue down a dirt road towards the beach.